Tuning-peg for stringed musical instruments



A. 0. GROVER.

TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FlLED'AUG-H. I919.

1,384,459.- rat ntediuly 12,1921.

S. INVENTEIR- zfllberi' 3. Graven by w ALBERT D. GROVER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUNlNG PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 12, 1921.

Application filed August 11, 1919. Serial No. 316,614.

To all 10 from it may concern 1 Be it known that LALBEI D. Gnovnn, a citizen oil the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State oi Newv York, have invented certain new and useful "improvements in TuningPegs for Stringed lilusieal Instruments, oi which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates in general to stringed musical instruments and its object is to proa new tuning peg, which by reason of certain novel features effectively overcomes the objections inherent in pegs of prior construction.

As those skilled in the art well know, the tuning pegs heretofore used on banjos and like instruments, have been clamped to the peg-head by a retaining screw passing through the thumb-piece. This clamping was eiiiec'ted by means of a pair'of shoulders or collars engaging the opposite faces of the peg-head This frictional engagement was not yieldablo but rigid. As a result, when the peg was turned in tuning the attached string, the retaining screw would frequently become loose and the peg would consequently slip. This has always been a source oi great annoyance to the players, and required frequent adjustment of the retaining screw. 1f the peg was too tight it would not turn with the required ease; if too loose it slipped. I

The'foregoing ohjcctions are entirely overcome by the tuning peg or my invention. liroadly speaking, one feature of my invention resides in the provision or elastic friction means "for securely holding the peg in any adjusted position. This basic idea may be mechanically carried out in different w In the preferred embodiment of my ii vention, as new best known to me, this friction means is in the form of a. coilspring mounted on the sh ank of the peg to force the head-engaging parts of the peg into frictional contact with the opposite faces of the peg-head, The result is, that the peg is held in adjusted position with the right degree of Emotion, being neither too tight nor too loose, and it is impossible for it to become loose when turned, as in tuning.

The tuning peg of my invention is also provided with means for quickly and easily attaching the string to the peg. In the tuning pegs heretofore in use on banjos, violins and other stringed instruments, the only way that the players could attach the string, was by inserting it through the small hole in the shank of the peg and then turning the peg several times to overlap the inserted end of the string. For this purpose it was neces sary that the string should be long enough to extend some distance through the opening, otherwise the string could not be wound on itself sufiiciently to prevent unwinding when the string was tuned up to the proper pitch. Furthermore, if the string broke at the tailpiece, where it usually does, there was not enough length of string left to fasten to the peg by the overlapping method asjust referred to, and the string had to be thrown may. This has been a source of expense to the player, increasing with the increasing cost of strings.

The foregoing defect is done away with entirely by the use of the string attaching device with which my peg is provided. By means of this device the. string is firmly clamped in the hole of the peg without any overlapping of string. No extra length of string is needed, but it may be attached to the peg if it is just long enough to insert into the hole. Furthermore, the string can be attached instantly, In the preferred form of my invention, this clamping device for the string is a set-screw which is readily worked by the fingers- 'The inner end of the screw bears a ainst the end oi the string in the hole and Iirmly clamps the same against slipping. I

The foregoing and other objects and advantages oi my invention will become apparent from a detailed description of the several forms shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a preferred form of tuning peg embodying my invention, certain parts being shown in. full for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section on line 22 of: Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a somewhat modified construction in which the two sleeves for the coil-spring are omitted;

Fig. 1 is a transverse section on line 4ll of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal Vi w. mainly in cross-section, of another modified construction in which a ring of rubber or similar elastic material is used in plare of the spring;

Fig. 6 is a transverse cross-section on line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in cross-section of still another modification using a rubber ring for the elastic friction means;

Fig. 8 shows a st'll further modified form partly in ross-section employing a coilspring, and

Fig. 9 shows a violin peg provided with my new string attaching device.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the peg has a shank 1 which passes through the usual. opening 2 in the peg-head 3 of the instrument. I have shown the peghead 3 merely in a conventional way, but that is sufficient for those skilled in the art. The shank 1 has a shoulder or enlargement 4, which is of greater diameter than the peghole 2, and is adapted to be drawn into frictional engagement with the face 5 of the peghead. Beyond the friction shoulder 41-, the peg is formed with an extension 6 having the usual hole 7 for receiving the end of the string 8. The extension 6 is provided with an axial bore or opening 9 for receiving the set-screw 10. This set-screw is preferably provided with a knurled or roughened head 11, slightly larger than the end flange 12 of the extension 6, so that the head 11 may be easily grasped by the fingers and turned. it will be clear from Fig. 1- that to fasten the string 8 to the peg, it is only necessary to insert the end of the string into the hole 7 far enough to reach the set-serew 10 and then give the set-screw a few turns to clamp the string firmly in the opening 7. This is but the work of a moment. and overcomes all. the difficulties and disadvantages of attaching the string to the pegs .of prior construction. as previously explained.

Still referring to Fig. 1, the shank 1 of the peg has mounted thereon a sleeve .13 which is open at its outer end 1 1, but is at its inner end provided with a shoulder 15 adapted to come into frictional. contact with the face 16 of the peg-head A Second sleeve 17 is also mounted on the shank 1 of the peg in such a way that the sleeves 13 and 17 form a chamber or housing for the coil.- spring 18. One end of this spring bears a ainst the shoulder 15 of the sleeve 13. and

the other end against the flange 19 of the sleeve 17. The tendency of the spring 18 is to force the sleeves 13 and 17 apart.

The peg is provided with a thumb-piece 20 of usual construction. having an angular opening 21, into which fits the angular section 22 of the shank 1. The thumb-piece 20 has an opening 23 in alinement with the screw-threaded axial opening 2 1 of the shank. A retaining screw 25 passes through the opening 23 into the screw-threaded opening 24, whereby the thumb-piece 20 is rigidly secured upon the shank 1. It will be clear that by turning the screw 25, the position of the thumb-piece 20 and therefore the position of the sleeve 17, is adjustable on the shank 1. In this way the tension of the spring .18 may be regulated. .By adjusting the thumb-piece away from the peg-head 3, the slidable sleeve 17 at once follows it and the spring 18 expands, thereby reducing its tension. To increase the tension of the spring 18, the thumb-piece 20 is moved. to ward the peg-head 3 by means of the screw 25.

It will be clear from Fig. 1, that the tendency of the spring 18 is to urge the annular shoulders 4. and 15 into frictional engages ment with the opposite faces of the peg-head 3, whereby the peg is securely held against slipping in any position to which it may be adjusted in tuning. The degree of pressure with which the shoulders 4-1 and 15 bear against the faces of the peg-head, is readily regulated by the player by a slight turning of the screw 25, as already explained. It will be observed that the frictional engage scent of the shoulders 4.: and 15 with the opposite faces of the peghead. is not rigid as in the pegs of prior coi'istruction, but is yieldable and automatically adjustable. Even if the screw 25 should. slightly turn while the player is manipulating the peg to time the string, this turning of the screw will not entirely loosen the frictional contact hnbxren the peg and the head.

in. Fig. is shown a slightly modified form of coi'istruction. The coil-spring 15%" hears at its inner end against the washer 26 and at its other end against the shouhler 27 of the thumb-piece 20. llhe washer 26 has an angular opening through which pas es the angular section 22 of the shank. There is also washer 28 interposed between the shoulder 1 of the peg and the adjacent face of the peg-head 3. The operation of the spring 13" is precisely the same as the spring 18 in the construction of Fig. 1. The spring .18 being under tension forces the shoulder 1 into frictional. engagement with the interposed washer 2S and the latter is drawn into frictional engagement with. the face of the peg-head. At the same time the washer 26. which constitutes in effect a shoulder like the shoulder 15 of Fig. 1, is forced by the spring 18 into frictional contact with the adjacent face of the peg-head. The result is the same as that described in connection with Fig. 1. The tension of the spring 18 may be regulated by means of the screw 25, in the same manner as described in connection with the spring 18 of Fig. 1.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, I use a ring 29 of rubber or other elastic material. The elastic ring 29 is interposed between the washers 30 and 31. The washer 31 bears against the thumb-piece 20 and may be pro' vided with an annular flange 32 fitting into a corresponding recess into the thumb-piece 20. The parts 30, 29, 31 and 20 are all provided with angular openings to receive the angular section 22 of the peg, so that when the peg is turned, all of these parts turn together. By adjusting the screw 25 which passes through the thumbpiece into the screw-threaded opening 24:- of the peg, the tension of the elastic ring 29 may be adjusted. When the elastic ring 29 is placed under compression by forcing the thumbpiece 20 and washer 31 toward the peghead by means of the retaining screw 25 the action of the elastic ring is to force the washers 30 and 28 into frictional contact with the opposing faces of the peg-head 3. Of course, the head or shoulder 4 of the peg will be forced against the interposed washer 28. Should any loosening of the screw 25 occur, the elastic ring 29 will immediately expand and maintain the headengaging parts of the peg in firm frictional contact with the peg-head.

In Fig. 7 I have shown another way of mechanically carrying out the basic idea of my invention. This form is in a way a combination of certain features shown in Figs. 1 and 5. An elastic ring 29 is housed in the recess or chamber formed by the sleeve 13 and the tension screw 33, which is threaded on the threaded portion 34 of the peg shank 1 The tension screw 33 has a knurled or roughened finger portion 35, by means of which the screw is adjustable axially on the pegshank; The sleeve 13 is similar to the sleeve 13 of Fig. 1 and is pro vided with a shoulder 15? which engages the adjacent face of the peg-head 3. The shank 1 is provided with an annular head or shoulder 1 which is similar to the shoulder 4 of Fig. 1 and is arranged to bear against the adjacent face of the peg-head. It will be clear, that when the tension-screw is screwed toward the peg-head, the elastic ring 29 is put under tension and it acts to force the shoulders 4: and 15 into frictional engagement with the opposing faces of the peg-head, thereby holding the peg firmly inadjusted, position. The thumb-piece 20 of Fig. 7 is secured to the peg-shank by the screw 25 in exactly the same way as the thumb-pieces of the constructions previously described.

In the modification of Fig. 7, the thumbpiece 20 performs the additional function of acting as a check-nut for the tensionscrew 33. In other words, when the tensionscrew 33 has been adjusted into the desired position, the thumbpiece 20 is so adjusted as to bear firmly against the flange 36 of the" screw 33, whereby the latter is held against accidental turning.

The form shown in Fig. 8 is practically the same as the one shown in Fig. 7, except that in place of the elastic ring 29 I use a coil-spring 18 The sleeve or cup-shaped washer 37 and the s-lidable sleeve 38 form a housing or recess 39 in which the spring 18 is retained. The two cup-shaped sleeves 37 and 38 are provided with angular openings through which passes the correspondingly shaped section 22 of the peg-shank, so that those two parts turn with the peg. The sleeve 38 is provided with a knurled or roughened finger portion 40, by means of which the sleeve is radially turned. The sleeve 38 is also provided with a screwthreaded section 41, which engages the screw-threaded extension 42 of the thumbpiece 413. As in. the case of the other thumbpieces, the thumb-piece -13 is secured to the shank of the peg by the screw 44; which engages the screw-threaded opening d5 of the peg-shank. To adjust the position of the sleeve 38 on the shank, it is only neces sary to loosen the screw 44;, which permits the turning of the tension-sleeve 38 into the position to adjust the tension of the After the spring 18 to the desired degree. sleeve 38 has thus been. adjusted, the screw 44 is turned home and the parts 38 and 13 are held rigidly as a single member on the shank of the peg. The action of the spring 18 is precisely the same as the action of the springs and elastic rings previously referred to; that is to say, the spring 18 will force the cup-shaped washer 37 and the shoulder or enlargement l into frictional contact with the opposite faces of the peghead 3, whereby the peg is firmly held against slipping. Any accidental loosening of the screw 14 is at once taken up by the spring 18", so as to maintain the frictional engagement with the peg and the head.

The foregoing modifications have been described for illustrative purposes only, and not by way of limitation. The basic idea of a tuning peg having elastic friction means which automatically maintain the frictional engagement between the peg and the head, may undoubtedly be mechanically embodied in other forms than the illustrations herewith presented.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a section of the peg-box or peg-head of a volin. The tuning peg shown in this figure is not provided with the elastic friction means shown in the other figures, but .is provided with the string attaching device previously described in connection with Fig. 1. The peg 46 is provided with the usual string receiving opening L7. At the adjacent end the peg 4L6 is provided with the axial bore or opening 48, which is screw-threaded to receive the set-screw 4L9. I prefer to provide the set-screw 4:9 witha knurled head 50, which is slightly larger in diameter than the end of the peg so that it can be easily grasped by the fingers and the crew adjusted into the desired position. The axial bore 4:8 meets the radial opening l7, so that when the clamping screw l!) is screwed home, the string A will be clamped firmly in the opening 47. My string-clamping device is especially useful on violin pegs, because it is a well known fact, that owing to the construction of the peg-b0 on violins it is a difficult and tedious job to attach a string by the old method of overlappii'ig, as explained in detail in connection with Fi g. 1. By the use of my stringclamp ing device, the player merely has to insert the end of his string into the string opening and then tighten the clamping-screw 49. This is but the work of a moment. Furthermore, as was explained in connection with the banjo peg of Fig. 1, my new string attaching device permits the attachment of a string which would be too short for pegs of the old construction. If the violin player has a string just long enough to go into the opening 47 far enough to reach the screw -19, he can attach his string without any di'liiculty.

It is obvious that the two main features of my invention, namely, the elastic friction means and the string-clamping device need not be used together in the same peg. For instance, in the violin peg of Fig. 9, the elastic friction means is not necessary, but in the case of a banjo I should say it would be advisable to use a peg embodying both features. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal. portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, a pair of rela-.

tively slidable shoulders on said shank to engage the opposite faces of the peg-head, and elastic means for forcing said shoulders toward each other into frictional engagement with the opposite faces of the peghead.

2. A tuning peg for stringed musical instruments comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, a pair of relatively slidable shoulders on said shank to engage the opposite faces of the peg-head, elastic means for forcing said shoulders toward each other into frictional engagement with the opposite faces of the peg-head and means for adjusting the tension of said elastic means.

A tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, a pair of relatively slidable shoulders on said shanr to engage the opposite faces of the peg-head, and elastic means for forcisaid shoulders toward each other into fictional engagement with the opposite faces of the peg-head, said tuumb-piece being adjustable along the axis of said. shank to vary the tension of said elastic means.

A tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, friction means on said shank for engaging the peg-head, and elastic means on said shank adapted to act upon said friction means and thereby maintain said frictional engagement practically constant, whereby the peg is securely held in adjusted position in the peg-head.

" A tuning neg for stringed musical in- O. struments, comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, a pair of relatively slidably shoulders on said shank to engage the opposite faces of the peg-head and a coil-spring on said shank for forcing said shoulders toward each other into frictional engagement with the opposite faces of the peg-head.

6. A tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, a shoulder on said shank near the other end thereof and adapted to engage one face of the peg-head,

a pair of sleeves slidably mounted on said shank and forming a chamber or housing, one of said sleeves having means at one end for frictionally engaging the adjacent face of the peg-head, the other sleeve being an ranged to bear at its outer end against said thumb-piece, and an elastic member in said chamber for forcing said shoulder and said first mentioned sleeve into engagement with the opposite faces of the peg-head.

7. A tuning peg for stringed muscial instruments, comprising an integral shank having a cylindrical portion to enter a peg hole and a polygonal portion provided at one end with a thumb-piece, a shoulder on said shank near th other end thereof and adapted to engage one face of the peg-head, a pair of sleeves slidably mounted on said shank and forming a chamber or housing, one of said sleeves having means at one end for frictionally engaging the adjacent face ofthe peg-head, the other sleeve being arranged to bear at its outer end against said thumb-piece, an elastic member in said chamber for forcing said shoulder and said 10 In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 15 my name this 8th day of August, 1919.

ALBERT D. GROVER. 

